MAN FROM THE FARTHEST PAST 
The ancient Chinese cast coins of this sort—models of 
knives and spades (Figs. 95 and 96)—in extremely thin 
bronze and continued their use until well into the historic 
period. And in parts of Africa hoes made of iron are still 
employed as a medium of exchange. 
Likewise, expanding trade gradually developed systems 
of weights and measures whereby goods might be valued 
more exactly than by the rough-and-ready methods in 
vogue in earlier times. Often the unit of measurement 
was based upon the dimensions of some part of the human 
body; such were the foot, the span, the cubit, and the 
fathom. The feet or hands or arms of no two persons 
might be exactly alike, but this did not matter very much 
in those days. Precision in measuring did not come until 
much later, and even yet has not been fully adopted, even 
in civilized lands, so that we still continue to sell eggs by 
the dozen and not by weight, the only exact method. 
But even with these improved means of buying and sell- 
ing, commerce in the Bronze Age remained in what we 
should today consider 
a very undeveloped 
state. Owing to the 
primitive means. otf 
Ee th transport—the backs 
‘of slaves and animals 
on land and canoes or 
small ships on the 
water—only objects of 
high value and dura- 
bility in proportion to 
their weight and bulk 
Fic. 96. Early Chinese hoe-money of copper; could be carried far or 
about 650-250 B.c. After Lockhart 
made to cover the cost 
of transportation. Such were gold, tin, ivory, amber, 
furs, and the like. Bulkier and heavier freight, like lum- 
ber, stone, grain, oil, or wine, could be moved only in 
small quantity and for short distances, on barges or rafts. 
[ 280 ] 
